Discovering out Next Discovery

For 13 lucky years my wife Stacie and I enjoyed life with our ’96 Discovery I. A local banker had owned it, maintained it through Vermont’s one dealership and left it stock. A set of BF Goodrich All Terrain T/A’s, Bilstein shocks and a stainless steel NRP gave it the right look and added capabilities. Our happy times with the Discovery outweighed the occasional frustrations. We drove it and created fond memories.

Driving a Discovery in winter snow is half the fun of owning one. However, we live in Vermont, which pickles its roads in salt every winter. The frame rusted beyond reasonable repair and the Discovery would no longer pass inspection. Regret lingered for only a few months when we began searching for its replacement. Quickly, we learned that we had caught the tail end of that generation of Discoverys and that a replacement would be challenging to find.

During our Discovery I ownership we never even looked at other Rovers or paid attention to trends and values. We started from scratch. Given our love of the Discovery model a Discovery II seemed the obvious choice, but we’d never been around one and we knew of the potential pitfalls of buying the wrong Discovery II.

It did not take long to realize that Discovery II’s were surprisingly rare birds within 100 miles of us, perhaps because owners love them so much that they’re reluctant to sell them. The ones we found for sale turned up rough with sellers demanding high prices based on the status of the Green Oval. After driving a few and speaking with enthusiasts we expanded the search.

We found many online classified sources and auction formats where we could learn about the Discovery II without leaving home. Patterns emerged based on location, condition, mileage, year, price, private sales, dealer sales… we geeked out studying the Disco II. Soon, we felt like we were seeing every Discovery for sale in America online — up to 50 Land Rovers daily popping up on our screens.

Vermont lies close enough to Discovery-rich markets like Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York. We focused our search to these markets, thinking maybe we could buy one and get it home. At first, they looked like Lands of Plenty. Dealers and private sellers offered bunches with high mileage and high asking prices. We learned that dealers in the Northeast returned calls slower when you request photographs of the undercarriage. CarFax proved a helpful resource, listing the number of previous owners, reports of accidents and their states of residence. These abundant markets appeared to be mostly rich with overpriced Salt Belt lifers — no, thanks!

We took the search further down the East Coast as well as westward. Local Land Rover experts urged us to consider the risk versus reward on buying a local or regional example we could inspect in person against examining one remotely that had passed its life in drier climes.

Supply and demand dynamics vary enormously across different markets. We learned that there are many more Discoverys available in markets outside of the Salt Belt. We found many fine examples in Texas, California, Colorado, New Mexico and Florida, and they encouraged us to budget transport costs into potential offers. Logistically, Florida emerged as our target state due to reasonable shipping costs.

Our target Discovery II became a ’99-’03 model with less than 130k miles, evidence of proper maintenance and three or fewer previous owners. We want it in our dooryard for under $5,000. While lots of folks on this journey told us that we were dreaming, focus is important while chasing a dream.

Long distance shopping for Discovery II’s requires clear and direct communication with sellers to sniff out problems with motors and frames. The former grew out of the aged tooling used to produce the blocks, which could be adversely affected by lazy maintenance causing overheating, head gasket failures and/or slipped cylinder liners. We read online accounts of the dreaded “Three Amigos” — bad fuel pumps, and electrical issues. Our old Discovery I suddenly looked like a legend of reliability.

How might we reduce the chances of buying a flawed Discovery II? We could not remotely run a Combustion Leak tester on a candidate. Tapping or ticking sounds from the engine can accompany coolant-burning issues, but could also be less-serious problems such as a failing spark plug wire or hydraulic lifter leak. More ominous would be the sound of coolant bubbling in the expansion tank reservoir.

How do you do this when you are buying from a distance? Ideally, there’s a knowledgeable Land Rover enthusiast and/or shop nearby who can examine the Discovery for you. If not, request that the seller do an open hood video call with you, showing the motor from a cold start (verified at the dash from the interior), so that you can see and hear the truck warm up and come to idle and temperature.

If you’ll pardon the pun, we looked to sniff out problems by, well, having someone sniff the exhaust for us. We knew that an engine leaking coolant internally will burn it off and the odor is distinctive. The odor might also be accompanied by silver or gray smoke emanating from the tailpipe. In a 30-second video, you can confirm by at least the senses of sight and sound what is going on. Buying from a distance comes with risk. Be cautious, thorough and smart in assessing mechanical condition.

The second big issue lay with the frame of a Discovery II. Checking out the entire undercarriage is essential, in person or through photos. Obviously, a Discovery II that has spent its life launching and retrieving boats in salt water becomes a likely candidate for significant corrosion issues. Similarly, one that has spent lots of time towing heavy trailers should also have received more frequent oil and transmission fluid changes.

Carefully look at the front frame rails at the Y pipe and catalytic converters. Check the welds, top and bottom, and the overall condition of the frame. You can see these front sections from both the top and bottom sides of the engine compartment. Your video call could also include having the seller slide under the car, as you would do, to take a hammer to the frame rails. A dull “thud” might be a sign of serious rusting.

After all these checks and long-distance chats, we found our next Discovery in December 2017. The ’03 Discovery II SE-7 had spent its entire life and 128,000 miles in Florida. It exceeded our expectations in terms of motor and frame conditions.

In December of 2017, we dragged our dream into existence: a 2003 Discovery SE7 with 128k miles purchased from a dealer in Florida. We embraced our 30-day temporary registration as a time window for a shake down prior to the mandatory state inspection. We found that we would need new track rods and a steering damper. Depending on the day, we either found warning lights of the Three Amigo variety — or Five Amigos. The fog lights and other lamps would not illuminate, and the battery would clearly not survive a winter. The interior of the rig was in excellent shape: clean and tight headliner, a straight dash with no cracks. The exterior trim and plastic moldings were losing the battle to the Florida sun, but they would prove easy to swap.

At our one-year anniversary, we’ve come to believe that a key to success with the Discovery II can be summed up in keeping water out of it and appropriate fluids in it.

The first order of business for us, before putting this truck on the road was to undercoat thoroughly. We chose WaxOyl hard wax and cavity wax. The elements might win in the end, but we committed with confidence to the idea of a comprehensive initial treatment, which we will inspect and maintain annually.

Secondly, we seek to keep water out by checking seals around the many glass panels in the Discovery. The seals appear sound at the windshield, but the sunroofs [sealed shut prior to our purchase] can be problematic; a sagging headliner indicates water intrusion.

Third, we changed most of the fluids: engine oil, diff fluids, gear box, transmission plus filter, coolant flush and brake fluid. The condition of the fluids coming out demonstrated a basically well-maintained truck.

We chose Amsoil fluids for the ending and drive train to give it the very best going forward. Doing as much of this as possible yourself is a great way to learn about your rig. We were fortunate to be referred to an excellent Rover tech for issues that we cannot tackle ourselves (there will be plenty of those.)

As an owner, getting under the hood regularly is essential to knowing your Discovery. It’s not a good idea to wait for dashboard lights to tell you of problems. Every time I pop the hood, my eyes go straight to the coolant reservoir, oil level, then to the power steering and brake reservoirs.

Getting to know our newly-acquired Discovery has been exciting, especially after a disciplined purchase process. We have now added 6,000 miles with no regrets and lots of family fun times. Knowing how your Discovery looks, sounds, smells, and the general “feel” of it has helped us know what to expect while getting most out of it. It should remain a long-time member of our family.

11 Responses

I’ve bought sight unseen twice now. The first was a 1997 300tdi D1, imported from Japan, converted to left hand drive and shipped from Vancouver to Toronto. Once I sealed the water leaks, it was a great ruck but not really up to towing our trailer so it went in favor of an LR3. Four years in and bills mounting on it, It was replaced by a Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk with a long extended warranty but even from the beginning of Jeep ownership, I was missing a Rover. I began the search for another D1, and my choice was a 1998 LSE. Found one in Vancouver, it developed engine issues just before purchase, Will Tillery had one come in but he had a local buyer and that was better for him. Then one came up on Autotrader in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. From pictures and a talk with the salesman, I plunked a deposit down and had it shipped to Toronto. I was quite lucky, it has minimal rust as they don’t use salt in Saskatchewan, a few leaks to sort (PS, transfer case), and some bushings need replacing. Overall, for 20 years old, I’m happy. Even the heated seats still work. It’s already been pressed into service and performed perfectly. It’s not going to see the winter salt, it’s going to be a summer truck only. Hopefully by doing that, it will last a long time.

I will keep you guys in prayer!!! We have had a love/hate relationship with our 03 disco since we purchased it in Florida as well!(10+years ago) My wife had her heart set on a Monte Carlo blue one which is a super rare bird in itself but finally we found one….had it shipped up to PA and Happy she was….until the oil leak started a week later…now, this was our third rover at the time…our first was a 98 which is a trooper and still running, second was a 91 classic Range Rover and then our 03……over the years of ownership we have replaced just about everything on the vehicle twice or more!…when it’s running its great but when it’s down it’s down…usually catastrophic failure!(ours currently has about 121K) Currently as I write this it has been in the shop for the last 2 weeks getting its current issue sorted out!! After 20-25mins of running the engine just cuts off and will crank but not restart until cool…? Fuel pump ? Crank sensor? Relay? Coil pack? Who knows?? If I had $100 every time I threatened to set this thing on fire I might actually break even with all that’s been invested!…I would say by far it has been the worst and most problematic Rover we have owned…but for some unknown reason we still have it!!….(18+ years of rover ownership….5 Rovers total owned and our very first one purchased (our 98 disco) is probably still the best!! God bless you my friends!

I have a 2002 LR DISCO SE II I purchased from the dealer in 2002 with 17,000 on it . It was a lease vechicle . In my 16 years of owning the truck here is what I can tell you. Find a really good but reasonable mechanic. Last thing, love it or leave it. I like the way the truck performs so I continue to fix it and drive it. I found a great mechanic 11 years ago and only him and his son work on the truck for me..

Good luck! Our 2000 was recently inspected here in PA. Found that rear frame rails are pretty much gone. We’ve had it since 04 are just couldn’t part with it. So now, despite its other nagging problems and a desire to keep it, I’m contemplating a rear frame replacement. The fun is in keeping the old girl going with 158k and it’s getting to be quite a challenge.

We’ve heard great things from people that have installed part# PLQ134H on RoversNorth.com. You don’t even have to take the body off the frame. You just need normal hand tools, a sawzall, tape measure, and simple MIG welding skills.

My 2002 Disco now has 224,000 miles on it and running strong. British Unlimited, 940 Rayford Rd in Spring, TX is the best of the best in my of LR mechanic shop’s I have ever done business with. Luis and his son Steven know Land Rover. They are extremely reasonable.

I own my 4th disco now, my first was a 1995, awesome machine then I bought a 1996 se Disco 1, I would have kept the 95 forever but a neighbor talked me into selling it to him as his wife wanted it, A relative begged me for the 1996 so off it went to him later I purchased an other 1995 land rover which had a blown head gasket and hadn’t been properly maintained so after making it road Worthy I sold it, then a friend had a 1999 disco1 that she had the coolant hoses replaced and the unknowledgeable mechanic broke the oil sending unit putting them on causing a rod knock, she had it towed home and sold it to me and she was the second owner using it only to drive to work on clean roads, no salt and the frame still has the paint inside the frame Zero rust anywhere, so now I am rebuilding the engine, new paint as it is fading, and I’m keeping this Rover forever as it is in almost perfect shape. I love the discovery 1 and the little aluminum V8 and be feelnit is the nicest looking SUV on the road.

I had a 95 Disco with the 5 speed. I always wanted one and when my boys and I decided we wanted to do a roadtrip out west to camp in the mountains, desert, basically anywhere offroad we bought it. I looked to everyone for that voice if reason, for someone to talk me into a Toyota or anything other than the Rover. To my surprise everyone said buy what you want and make it happen. “Kate” as she was named literally died in my driveway after the 2 hour drive home from where I bought her and that very night woke my neighbors up with her alarm going off for no apparent reason whatsoever. We spent 30 days getting her ready for our trip. I fabricated body mounts, replaced the windshield, replaced the metal behind the windshield, tires brakes, exhaust, tune up and the list goes on and on. Thirty days of thinking she was ready to go then something would break. Friends and family were genuinely concerned that I was taking my kids across country in what they dubbed a POS. In the end we drive 4000 miles with virtually no issues. Camped in the mountains where on a real 4×4 could get to, the desert areas of Moab, dispersed camping just outside of the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, etc… Mostly off the beaten path where you actually needed a dedicated offroad rig. In the end I sold Kate due to life circumstances. My kids still talk about how we fixed up Kate and how “we” made that trip happen. The boys learned how to fix, maintain and care for “high maintenance ” vehicles. From an outsider Kate was a rolling disaster, when she ran…. To us she was simply amazing. 3 years later now we’ve made the decision it’s time, time for another “rolling disaster” in our lives. We’ve begun our search and picked our destination. At least for us we’ve chosen a Land Rover with our hearts, definitely not with our heads. Once you own one, you’ll understand.

Our first Rover was a 97 SE which was great. Then a 2000 which was better until the frame rotted. The decision was to part ways or rebuild her which I did starting with. “Katrina” frame. I didn’t stop until last year or so. The money was large but I didn’t care. She is a beast now that is still a joy to drive and have. Apart from the roofs leaking she is a joy.